Congress backs Maharashtra CM Chavan’s decision to skip Modi’s event

Mumbai: The Congress on Thursday said it that supported Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's decision not to attend the events with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Nagpur, saying that the ‘decision is right considering the way chief ministers are treated in PM’s events’.

"Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee is fully supportive of Chavan's decision to skip the Nagpur Metro event with the PM today, considering the manner in which chief ministers are treated in PM's events," MPCC president Manikrao Thakre said.

"The post of CM of Maharashtra is a matter of pride, no matter to which party he belongs. Any behaviour which hurts his pride is an insult of Maharashtra," Thakre said.

At a function in Solapur on Saturday, where the Prime Minister inaugurated four-lane National Highway Number 9, Chavan had to stop speaking midway as alleged BJP supporters started chanting Modi's name.

"It is surprising that the PM kept mum when the incident happened in his presence," Thakre said, referring to the Solapur incident.

"Maharashtra has the tradition of respecting even the opponents. The disturbance created by Modi supporters at the Solapur event is insulting for the state," Thakre said.

Thakre's remarks came after Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda threatened to never attend any future events with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he was booed by the audience at an event in Kaithal and the Maharashtra Chief Minister's decision to boycott the PM's public function in Nagpur.

"I have decided not to attend the Prime Minister's function because of the incidents that took place in recent days. As per protocol, a representative of the state government will be present at the function," Chavan has said.

Chavan is in Nanded on Thursday and would chair a meeting of the state Cabinet here this evening.